TEACHING PROJECT Stone in the architecture of Brač

Stone was the basic building material in the old architecture of Brač. The task of our project was to explore the history of quarrying and the usage of stone in the construction of our settlements.

TEACHER:Lada Kuzmanić Runje

Elementary school Pučišća students

EXPLORERS:

Diocletian pallace cellars

ROMAN TIMES

Illyrian walled settlement

The stone has been used as a building material since

prehistoric times on the island. Drywalls, cottages, and walled

settlements were built.

HERKUL-ŠKRIP

The Romans opened quarries near Škrip and Splitska, using

the stone for construction of Diocletian Palace.

KATEDRALA U ŠIBENIKU TROGIRSKA KATEDRALA

The top floor of Trogir Cathedral was built by Trifun Bokanić, stonemason from Pučišća.

RENAISSANCE

During the Renaissance new quarry opened in Pučišća, from which stone was excavated for the construction of Šibenik

cathedral. Several stonemasons from Pučišća were famous: Trifun Bokanić, Nikola Radojković, Ivan Puljizić and Nikola Lazanić. .

STOCK EXCHANGE BUILDING IN ZAGREB MEŠTROVIĆ GALLERY, SPLIT

MEŠTROVIĆ - Art pavilion in Zagreb BANOVINA BUILDING IN SPLIT

SEVERAL FAMOUS BUILDINGS BUILT OF BRAČ STONE

The Stonemasons school in Pučišća

A FISH FOSSIL

Brac stone is limestone, formed by deposition of marine organisms. There are several types, and in Pučišća quarryVeselje and Sivac are "harvested". Sivac is punctuated by blotches or

veins, andVeselje contains smaller or larger shells’ remnants.

VESELJE FIORITOVESELJE UNITO

SIVAC VENATO SIVAC MACCHIATO

In the Stonemason school students learn antique, "Roman" way of stone carving.

SEPARATING BLOCKS BY WEDGES

MARTELINA

BUćORDA PIKET

ZUBATKA

TOOLS FOR STONE CARVING

POLIRANJE

FINE PROCESSING AND POLISHING TOOLS

IN THE PAST, THE STONE WAS PROCESSED ONLY MANUALY.

TODAY, THE HARDEST WORKS ARE HANDLED BY MACHINES

After getting acquainted with the material, we went out to research how it was used for building. We explored, took photos and made sketches.

Pučišća is an example of seaside settlement, and Pražnicais an example of the inland settlement.

The inland settlements are older, because the inhabitants of Brač dealt mainly livestock and agriculture, and the coast was uncertain because of pirates. Only since the 15th century seaside settlements were created.

Houses in seaside settlements face

waterfront and port

They are built tightly and located along the hill

Inland settlements are centered around the square (Pjaca). Houses are scattered

and have larger gardens.

By pjaca and the port the houses are largest and

richly decorated.

The sinkholes are never built, because they contain the most

fertile land

Whether on the hills or by the sea, the settlements are realated by the stone as a building material. The drywalls, the walls, the roofs and decorative details – all made of stone.

VEŽNJAK

DRYWALL

The outer parts consist of larger pieces, and inside is filled with tiny stone waste (“škaja”).

In the oldest times houses did not have chimneys, only a hole in the roof.

RAINWATER FROM THE

ROOF POURED INTO

THE CHANNELS AND

FILLED THE WATER

TANK.

GUSTIRNA (WATER TANK) TAKES A PART OF THE CELLAR OR IT’S ADDED TO THE HOUSE. EVERY SETTLEMENT HAD ALSO LARGE COMMON WATER TANKS.

THE SIMPLEST HOSES LOOK THE

SAME AS THEY LOOKED IN THE

OLDEST TIMES. THOSE ARE

COTTAGES WITH THE DOORS AND

SMALL WINDOW, USUALLY

WITHOUT THE DOORSTEP.

THE HOUSES ARE

GATHERED AROUND

COMMON COURTYARD.

IF THE HOUSE IS STOREY, THERE’S A CELLAR IN THE GROUNDFLOOR.

Partition walls are made of boards or wattle, covered with plaster or mud.

THE HOUSES ARE OFTEN BUILT IN A ROW.

STAIRS TO FIRST FLOOR WITH "SULOR"

(SOLARIUM).

SHELTERD SPACE UNDER ARC

(BALATURA) COULD BE USED FOR

SITTING AND WORKING IN THE WINTER

TIME.

IN ATTIC, LIGHT COMES

THROUGH "LUMINOR“,

SKYLIGHTS WITH SMALL

GABLED ROOFS.

LARGER HOUSES HAVE BALCONIES MADE OF LARGE

PANELS LEANING ON STONE "TEETH".

SMALL OPENINGS &

WOODEN SHUTTERS -

PROTECTION FROM

SUNLIGHT AND WIND

PARTICULAR TYPE OF HOUSES: VILLAS

AND SUMMER RESIDENCES OF

WEALTHIER FAMILIES

ALL SEASIDE SETTLEMENTS HAVE

TOWERS TO DEFEND AGAINST

THE TURKS      AND THE

PIRATES

OUTDOOR SPACES, ALSO BUILT IN STONE, FORM UNITY WITH THE HOUSES

AN EXHIBITIONRELATED TO OUR PROJECT WAS SET UP IN THE SCHOOL.